Ligand Substitution of UiO-66-2OH for Universal Phosphate Detection

Phosphate plays a crucial role in biological metabolism across both plants and animals, with abnormal concentrations often indicating various diseases. Despite the prevalence of the molybdenum blue detection method, certain issues persist, including difficulties in preservation and the need for fresh preparation. Here, we introduce a hydroxy-modified metal–organic framework, University of Oslo 66 (UiO-66-2OH), as a versatile platform for fluorescence probes capable of detecting phosphate concentrations in both botanical and clinical contexts. By changing modulator amounts and metal centers, we synthesized particles of varying sizes and active centers (Zr and Hf). Our investigations revealed that a 300 nm UiO-66-2OH particle with a Zr center was optimal for phosphate detection, achieving a limit of detection of 7 μM with low cost. Furthermore, we explored the potential agricultural and diagnostic applications. These findings underscored the versatility and promise of UiO-66-2OH as a sensing material for diverse biological and medical applications.